THE PARLIAMENT OF Jnstructjons'; FOR, The relief of afflicted, persecuted, and plundered Christians. Written by H. T. one of the Parliaments Soldiers, who hath since lost his life in the service. PSAL. 55. 22. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall nourish thee, he will not suffer the Righteous to fall for ever. LONDON, Printed by JANE COE. 1645. The Parliament of Instructions, for the relief of afflicted, persecuted, and plundered Christians. THe Ship of this kingdom being now tossed with the Waves and Tempests of a civil and unnatural war, (the sharpest and sorest of all God's arrows) It is no time for any man (like Jonas) to lie snorting in the bottom of the Ship, but we must all endeavour to use some means for to stop the current of this inundation, and overflowing of God's judgements upon us, and as by our many great and crying sins we have provoked God to wrath and indignation against us; so by our humiliation, prayer, and reformation, we ought to seek to appease his offended majesty: Which that every particular man may the better put in execution, I have collected these considerations and Meditations following, out of the word of God, which may serve as directions unto all sorts of people, how to behave and dispose of themselves in the most sad and disconsolate times. 1 Let a man examine himself, whether he be in the estate of grace or not? Let us try our faith and repentance; if we will not try ourselves, we shall be tried, it is therefore our duty to do it before hand: Let us look that we lay a good foundation, and build upon the sure and immovable rock Christ Jesus, and then let the floods of affliction beat. (Lam. 3 40.) Let the storms and Tempests of persecution blow never so, yet we shall stand firm and sure. Mariners, you know it's enough for them almost, that they know their ships good, however they be tossed, they know the nature of the Seas, I am well embarked; why so may you in the midst of all your tossings who are right with him; say, I am in a good vessel, I am in Christ, here is my Ark; let the world rage, let what will come, I am in Christ, I am in a very blessed Ark. (Math. 3. 26, 27, 28. Mar. 5. 37. Luk. 8. 28. Rom. 13. 14.) 2 We should wean our minds from the love of the world. A thing hanged on a pin is easily heaved off, but the things that are glued or cemented together, are hardly surrendered or divided. David loved Absalon too much, which made him so much lament for the loss of him. Excessive love to the world makes the cross the harder to be endured. (2 Sam 18. 33.) 3 We should be twice as much exercised in religious duties, as in other more peaceable times. When Judas was plotting, Christ went to the Passover; when Almighty God comes to visit, let him find us well employed; let us be moved with reverence and diligence to use means to save ourselves, and our families, & all that belong unto us. Mat. 26. 14. Lu. 22. 4. 4 We should labour to keep a good conscience, that when we have troubles without, we may have peace within. For (saith Solomon) a good conscience is a continual Feast. (Acts 24. 16. 1 Cor. 1 3. Gal. 1. 3.) 5 We should enure ourselves to some hardness, a delicate person will hardly suffer. We should deny ourselves something in meat, something in apparel. Let us abase ourselves lest God abase us. God threatens a severe curse by the mouth of his Prophet, unto those that humble not themselves in times of common calamity. (Joel 2. 1. 12. Zeph. 1. 12.) 6 Pray and sue and entreat evermore, for the favour of God; it will be intolerable to apprehend the wrath of God and the wrath of man both at once; God hath promised, that if we call upon him in the time of trouble, he will hear. (Psa. 50. 15. Jam. 5 13. Jer. 29. 12.) 7 Let us make much of the promises, they being up, will be as strong waters to keep us from fainting. Amongst other precious promises of God in Scripture, meditate upon these Texts following: Psa. 125. 1, 2. They which trust in the Lord, shall be as M. Zion which cannot be moved, but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is about his people, from henceforth even for ever. 1 Sam ●. 9 The Lord will keep the feet of his Saints. Prov. 1. 33. Who so hearkneth unto me, shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet for fear of evil. Psal. 91. 4. He will cover thee under his wings, and thou shalt be sure under his feathers, his Truth shall be thy sword and buckler. Psal. 121. 3, 4, 5. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved, he that keepeth thee will not slumber: Behold, he that keepeth Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy Keeper, the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. Seeing the Lord is our Keeper, we need not fear the greatest dangers in the most dangerous times. (See also, Job. 11. 18, 19 Matth. 10. 39 Chap. 19 24. Psal. 125. 3. 1 Sam. 2. 20. Deut. 28. 7. Deut. 30. 7. Prov. 21. 18.) 8 Get into thy heart, sound and experimental knowledge of the truth, as also the love of it. It is the truth we are likely to suffer for, we cannot suffer for that we do not know, much less for that we do not love. (Joh. 17. 3. Tit. 1. 16. Joh. 18. 37.) 9 We should labour to encourage and comfort one another in these evil times; God hath a Book of remembrance of them that speak often one to another. Mal. 3. When men do ask what news? we should question with them, what shall we do to escape God's judgements? shall we pray and humble ourselves? shall we fast? shall we become new men, and bind ourselves to God with an everlasting covenant? Many good friends oftentimes in the world shake hands at parting, therefore when we keep our solemn Assemblies, which should be now more often then ordinary, we should keep them with the more reverence and devotion, for we know not whether we shall make them any more. (Mal. 3. 17. Luk. 21. 38. Joel 1. 14. Pr. 27. 12. Isa. 45. 20. Ezr. 6. 23. Neh. 8. 30. 1 Pe. 5. 6.) When we make our humble repentance unto God▪ we had need do it sincerely indeed, it may be our last▪ It is said of certain hawks in colder Countries, that they are most earnest and eager to take their prey, when the day light there is of least continuance. Let us not care so much what shall be after us in the World, but let us care what will become of us when we are departed, in the World to come. Hear good counsel (saith Austin) do that before death, which may do thee good when thou art dead. When the Church in Hester's time, was sold to be destroyed by wicked counsel (as we now are) Hester and Mordecai and all the Jews, they fasted, and humbled themselves before the Lord, and had a glorious deliverance. (Esth. 4 15. 16.) We should labour to make good our interest in God, to clear up our evidence for heaven, our assurance of God in Christ; when David was driven from home and harbour, he encouraged himself in the Lord his God: Tolle meum, & tolle Deum, saith Augustine. If a man knows, that God is his in Christ, his friend, his God, his habitation, his Rock, unto whom he may continually resort; he will soon believe himself in the loss of all outward things thus: Well, though I have lost my house, yet I have kept my God, he is such an habitation as cannot be plundered, such an habitation as cannot be plundered, such an habitation, as wind, and rain, and weather, cannot beat through; such an habitation, as I may carry about the World with me. (Psal. 73. 23. Psal. 18. 1, 2. 1 Sam. 2. 2. Prov. 10. 29. Isa. 49. 8. 9) There is a story of a King, that when he had destroyed a country, in his destroying fell in Love with a beautiful woman, whom he brought away with him and married, and afterwards much lamenting to her that he had slain her father, that he had killed her husband, massacred her friends, and destroyed her country, she answers him sweetly again with a great deal of affection: My husband, my father, my friends and country are now in thee O King; This is that Love which God would fain have from you, and this is that language which would express a great deal of Peace and comfort in your souls, and which the hand of God now leads you to, at this time, when God threatens your country, when he brings confusion upon your estates, when he destroys your armies, if he should go further, if he should turn your country absolutely into a wilderness, if he should take away all your dear Relations from you; Then do you comfort yourselves after this manner: What's my country? Which are my children? and where is my estate? My country, my children and my estate, They are in thee oh my God. Be sure of this therefore that you clear your interest in God himself. 10. We should learn now before the rainy day come to be dead unto all the world. The Man that is dying is senseless, not affected with the cries of his Children, wife and friends, that stand round about him, though they weep and wring their hands he is not stirred, Why? Because being a dying man he is dead to them; and if you be dead to your houses, Liberties and Estates aforehand, you will be able to buckle and grapple with that condition, So it was with Paul, who died daily, 2 Cor. 5. 4. Phil. 1. 21. 11. Have ever sweet thoughts of Death from this consideration, this world, this life is a stage of sorrow: Death is but your Exit, by it you go off the Stage, why then death puts an end to your part of sorrow; 'tis a strange darkness that lies upon our apprehensions, that makes death fearful to us, indeed 'tis this life that's dreadful, all the sufferings of a saint they are contained within the compass of this life; and life is nothing else but a Tract of sufferings, and death cuts the thread of all our sorrws, by cutting the thread of life: He that writes the life of Saint Austin, tells a story of him; An holy man was upon the point of dying, but was very unwilling to die, a couple of young men, clothed with a beauty and majesty more than earthly, appeared to his bedside and spoke thus: O vain men, what shall I do with you, you cannot endure miseries, and yet you are unwilling to go hence, you cannot endure pain, and yet you desire to live. Let me say this to you all, why are you afraid to die? Do you love sorrows? Are you unable to bear misery, and are you unwilling to go off from this stage of suffering? In this life we are as it were in a dark cave, beyond which is a glorious habitation, why are you afraid of passing the flame, the flame is at the very mouth of the Cave, and you are no sooner in it, but you are out of it. Live in grief, these your griefs are as the glory of your God upon you; Die cheerfully when you die, because with the loss of life, you enter into glory. 12. Let us set before our eyes the joys of heaven, as Christ did. Heb. 12. That man that doth not mind the things of this life is never likely to be rich, (if he do not mind them in a moderate way) so that man that doth not mind the joys of Heaven shall never come thither. Where should the Members be but where the Head reigneth? Where should the heart be but where our Heavenly treasure is? Christ who is our Treasure is in heaven, whither our affections first ascend and then we follow after. (Heb. 12. 2. Mat. 6. 19 20. Luk. 12. 33. 1 Tim. 6. 19) 13. Let us consider the uncertainty of all earthly treasures or comforts: they are like Absaloms' Mule, they will go away from under us when we have most need of them, and leave us hanging by the hair of the head. When night comes we willingly lay off our clothing, and then make ready to rest. A night of Affliction and destruction is now coming upon the kingdom, let us be willing to depart as we came into the world, naked. A great conqueror of the world would have his ensign-bearer carry forth a sorry cloth or shrouding sheet, saying: Lo here is all of his conquests, that a worthy Captain doth carry with him. (Saladin. Asiae Dominator. Job 14. 1. Job. 17. 14. Eccles. 1. 8. and 12 8. Jam. 5. 1, 2 3.) 14. Let us often meditate upon the fire of Hell. The Scripture calls it, A bottomless Pit, Tophet, a Dungeon, large and deep, the burning whereof is fire and brimstone; The Lake of the second death. If a man cannot endure a little fire in one part of his body (as on his little finger) but one hour, how intolerable shall the pain of the damned be when they shall burn within and without! Who can dwell with everlasting burning (saith the Prophet Esay) And yet our fire here is but a picture and shadow of that unquenchable fire there in Hell, where one drop of cold water will be more worth than all the Jewels of the World, though only to cool the tongue. (Reve. 9 1 & 20. 15. Mat. 22. 13.) 15. Let us set before our eyes the example of the Saints which have suffered, for the truth we profess. Examples show us it is novelty, nor impossibility to suffer for Christ's sake and the Gospels. Who would not follow having such a cloud of witnesses. He. 12. 1. 1 Pet. 4. 16. 17. 18. 16. Spare not one sin unmortified, keep not beloloved Dalilah, for it will make us more woe than we think for, and will make us have inward fears and doubtings, when others shall have consolation. Christ when he arose, he arose early; Lazarus that lay four days, began to savour, If we lie long in our sins we shall wax unsavoury too. We see by experience, that the longer we defer the curing of wounds, the harder is their rocovery at the last. Jer. 8. 11. 1 Kin. 17. 13 17. We should cast away all confidence in ourselves, & in our own strength, Peter trusted ●o himself and fell, In his own might shall no man boast. 1 Sam. 2. Let us be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, Ephes. 6. 10. Mat. 26. 33. 1 Sam. 2. 9 Deu. 3. 39 18. We should redeem the time because the days are evil, especially from idle talking and speaking of those things which do not concern us, for that speaking may endanger us. The Prudent should keep silence in an evil time. Amo. 5. The Advarsary may entrap us in our words. Therefore let us take heed before whom and what we speak. 19 Let us labour to have true faith in God, this weapon where ever God hath put it in any hand, hath done glorious things for the Church of God, if thou canst but get this weapon into thy hand & heart, it will cause thee to live comfortably in the worst times thou canst meet withal, and make thee say with the Prophet, Hab. 3. Though the figtree should not blossom nor no fruit be left in the Vine, though the Labour of the Olive should fail, and the Fields not yield their increase, yet will I rejoce in the Lord, and joy in the God of my Salvation. (Heb. 11. 11, &c. Mat. 21. 21.) 20. Let us be often conversant with God, we should enter into Chambers; shut the door upon us, and hide ourselves till this jndignation be passed over. Isa. 26. 20. Let the stream of our thoughts be for Heaven. Let us get under our father's wings and say to him: Thou art my hinding place, Psal. 32. We must run to God, not fly from him, if we will be safe in the evil day: Oh happy and comfortable shelter that alone can defend us from the scorching heat of persecution, Pro. 27. 12. Psal. 32. 7. Act. 8. 21, 22. 21. We should often exercise works of Mercy, & charity towards our poor Brethren: visit the sick, relieve the wounded and distressed servants of Christ, Give a portion to seven and to eight, for thou knowest not what evil the Lord will bring on the earth. Eccles. 11. 2. Mat. 25. 45. 1 John 3. 18. and 24. 22. Meditate terror, conceive the worst before hand. To be forewarned is to be forearmed, get hope, get submission, get patience. Let us prepare and set ourselves in a readiness: think of the Judgement coming upon us. All the faithful Ministers of God admonish us; The sword is now amongst us, and God is now riding upon his Red Horse through England to chastise us for our former sins. Meditate as if the enemy had overcome our Armies, and that a famine and siege should ensue, The things that I feared saith Job, are come upon me. (1 Pet. 4. 12.) 23. Let us take heed of these things now, that may make our condition uncomfortable then. There are three things, that will make that condition very uncomfortabe: Pride, wanton abuse of your creature Comforts, and unwillingness to lay them out in the cause of God. If you have house, Lands, estates, friends, or good clothes, and be now proud of them, when they are taken from you, your hearts will smite you and say: Ah, this was because I was so proud thereof, and lifted up myself above my Brethren, and therefore I am now made even with them, as poor as they: (Esay 3. from the 16. to the 25. M●● 10. 37. Luk. 14. 26. 1 Cor. 7. 30.) If you do wantonly abuse the creature in drunkenness, Chambering, wantonness, &c. When ●hey are taken away, your heart will upbraid you and ●ay: Ah, This you may thank your wantonness for, ●ou used these creatures so basely, that they groaned ●nder your hand, and so now they be got from you. ●f you be not willing to lay them out in any good cause, your heart will reproach you in the evil day; Ah, it is even just with God to take all from me, I would not lay out my money and estate for his ●ruth, his Ordinance, his cause, and now he hath ●iven me and all into the hands of spoilers. 24. In the last place I shall conclude with some useful directions unto those, that have or shall fall into the hands of the enemy, and thereby suffer the ●osse of their Estates or goods; If it shall please the Lord to bring any into that condition; Let them first humble themselves, and accept of the punishment of their iniquity, and say; The Lord is righteous in all that is come upon them: So did Daniel, Dan. 9 7. O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of face, as at this day. (1 Pet. 5. 6. Isa. 2. 11. Deut. 8. 16. Ier. 13. 18) 2 Be sure to bless and praise the Lord for that little you have left, and if nothing be left, praise God for others that are free from your condition. If a man be in prosperity, and grieve for others in adversity, it is the only way to keep him in prosperity; if a man be in adversity, and can praise God for others, and rejoice in their prosperity, it is the only way to have his own adversity changed into prosperity. 3 Be careful to keep God's promise in your full view. The promise is very full and clear, what condition is there enriched with more promises? Are you afraid when you are driven out of your Houses, that you shall faint and fall in the streets, that you shall die in the Fields, or some Ditch? Remember that promise where God hath said; (Matth. 19 29.) Those that forsake house and land, shall receive an hundred fold. Then remember the 100 fold promise. But would you return to your own house, and are you afraid you shall not do so? Then remember that promise, Micah 4. 6. 7. In that day (saith the Lord) will I assemble her that halteth, and gather her that is driven out. and her that I have afflicted. In the interim, are you afraid of misery, poverty, beggary? Then remember that promise which hath 5 seals upon it, I will never leave you nor forsake you: Where in the original there are 5 negatives, as if he should say thus; I will never, never, never, never, never, leave you, or forsake you. (Heb. 1. 3. 5. Jos. 1. 5.) Luther insists much upon that promise of our Saviour Christ unto his Disciples, (Matth. 10. 33.) You shall not have gone over all the Cities of Judea, until the son of man shall come: The son of man was already come (saith Luther) whe● he did speak these words, and therefore the promise belongs not only to the Disciples, but to all the Disciples of Jesus Christ that shall be, the promise speaking thus much; that though they be persecuted and driven from one place to another, yet there shall be always some place open to receive them▪ When persecution is in one place, another shall be free from it, and there shall be always some place free until the son of Man shall come. Stock and store yourselves with many such promises, that when this misery spoken of shall come; keep them in your full view. Think on all these things (I say) for the present, and in the future if such a condition fall. And the Lord give us understanding in all things. FINIS. Published according to Order.